In April, the Commonwealth Government announced its intention to
establish a National Indigenous Cultural Education and Knowledge
Centre, one of the ideas to emerge from the 2020 Summit convened by
the Rudd Government early in its term of office.

The Minister for indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, made the
announcement in a media release which I have attached to this
message.

The Minister says the Government will conduct a feasibility
study to decide the form and role of the Cutural Education and
Knowledge Centre.

The media statement says the study will gather the views of the
"Indigenous and wider communities to develop options for the most
effective way to strengthen and support Indigenous cultures."

She says it has been suggested that the Centre could, among
other things, become a national gathering place for the celebration
and discussion of Indigenous culture in a physical or 'virtual"
sense.

We believe this announcement will be of interest to all LALCs
given their inherent interest in culture and heritage.

As most of you would be aware NSWALC is also committed through
its Corporate Plan to pursue the establishment of a Cultural and
Archival centre in New South Wales.

I intend to write to the Minister, on behalf of NSWALC,
welcoming the pursuit of this idea and suggesting such a Centre
should be located in NSW.

Importantly, we need to point out that the use of the word
Indigenous is not, in our view, appropriate for such a Centre.

As many of you would recall there was much debate at NSWALC's
State Conference on the inappropriate use of the word Indigenous in
relation to Aboriginal people.

There was also debate about this matter at the recent National
Workshop on the proposed National Representative Body.

Participants in the workshop expressed a strong preference for
the phrase "Indigenous peoples" not to be used as the primary
descriptor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

A majority of participants expressed their preference for the
phrase "first nations," or "first peoples."

I'm sure this would be the unanimous view in the Land Council
network.

NSWALC will keep you informed of developments in relation to the
proposed Cultural Education and Knowledge Centre.